WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Graduating from high school is one of the biggest accomplishments in many teenagers’ lives. But what about earning a college degree before ever crossing a high school commencement stage?
Thanks to dual enrollment courses, that’s what happens every year for a handful of seniors at the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School (PALCS). These students take college courses in addition to their online high school classes. The flexibility an online charter school offers makes it even easier for students to find courses that fit their schedules.
In May 2026, Analilia Cabrera, Jo Hughes, and Jude Smith all took part in the Delaware County Community College (DCCC) commencement ceremony. Jo and Jude earned associate degrees, while Analilia received a Certificate of Competency. A month later, all three students earned their PALCS diplomas.
Analilia Cabrera
Analilia earned a certificate of competency in Drafting and Design. She learned to use Computer-Aided Design (CAD), gaining in-demand skills that will help her head directly into the workforce. Analilia says after taking a PALCS course in CAD, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in this field and decided dual enrollment classes could help her achieve that goal.
Jo Hughes
Jo earned her associate degree in Liberal Arts. When she attends Rider University to study musical theater and sound design this fall, she’ll only have one general education class left to take. The rest of her time there will be singing, dancing, acting and sound design, and she will complete her degree in three years with a BFA and musical theater and a double major in sound design.
Jude Smith
Jude earned an associate degree in Liberal Arts. This fall, Jude will attend the Honors College at Duquesne University to study International Security and minor in International Relations.
More about dual enrollment at PALCS
These achievements were made possible by dual-enrollment classes. As of the 2025-26 school year, PALCS has a dual enrollment agreement with six institutions of higher learning.
Click here to see a full list of PALCS’s dual enrollment partners
- Delaware County Community College
- Pennsylvania State University – Lehigh Valley
- Community College of Beaver County
- Montgomery County Community College
- Community College of Philadelphia
- Johnson College
Students may also receive approval from PALCS to enroll in post-secondary elective courses at other institutions of higher learning. With approval, students can earn both college credit and one high school credit for these courses.
Dual enrollment courses are open to PALCS students in grades 11 or 12. PALCS will pay for up to two courses each school year for eligible students who qualify to participate in dual enrollment. Some students, like Analilia, Jo, and Jude, take more classes and complete a college degree through dual enrollment courses.
Ready to enroll? Click here to learn more about dual enrollment courses, as well as all the opportunities PALCS offers as an online charter school in Pennsylvania.
